THE FLOWER GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 9

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Use the Hose, Now that the warmer days are here don't forget to water frequently. A good soaking once or twice a week is iar better than daily sprinklings which only succeed in watering the surface and so encourage tli© roots to slioot to the top, The deeper the roots travel the more a pant will stand the dry weather. Before watering lawns sprinkle sulphate of ammonia p n the ground, lialf an Iiounce to a square yard, and tlien watch the new strong growth appear. Dahlias and "Mums." Dahlias may now he planted at once for autumn fiowering. Chrysanthemums will be coining aloug last and sliould be secured to stakes as they grow. Always stake taller plants by forcing the stake alongside. Any signs of rust may be prevented by using sulphjde of potassium. Cultivation. As we are surely in for a warm summer and autumn, every effort, especially on dry soils, sliould be made to retain the natural moisture in tlie ground. Tliis is best doiie by miilching the flower beds with rotted manure or grass and leaves. Systematio working of the surface soil with a Dutch hoe will succeed in forniing what is termed a dust mulch, which will check evaporation and keep the roots cool and clcan. Queen of Flowers. Rose bushes have done excellent work tliis season, any many fine bloonia have been seen in our local gafdens. When the hrst crop of flowers is hnislied, cut back the dead buds, aud when picking blooms cutwell into the plant. A light summerpruning sonietiines does good, and the results are always apparent in the second crop of blooin. An occasional watering with hquid manure at this period promotes a long fiowering season. Plants to Set. Bed out patckes of zinmas, celocia and cosmos for back borders or centre of beds. Asters, phlox, petunias, and pyrethrum are splendid for massing or edging. A splendid subject for dry places is marigolds. The tall African inakes- a bold show with its double large flowers. The French or dwarf variety is excellent for using in conjunction with the former species. Seeds to Sow. Have you set those summer-fiower-ing sweet peas yet? If not get busy and sow some more now before the weather gets too dry. Deeply trenehed and manured ground will yield the best results from now on. Sow in clumps along the borders Virginia stock, linaria} dwarf nasturtium and calendula. For rockeries, set portulacla. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Keep the Weeds Down. Unless you have abundant water supply the hose will have to be in frequent evidence during the coming months. With an ample supply of water and warm weather will come hosts of dry weather weeds that always succeed where other things fail. The only method is to keep the hoe busy between waterings and thus kill twobirds with the one stone, for you will cut out germinating weeds and help to keep the soil cool and moifjture contalning. Peas and Beans. Continue to sow succession crops of these |popular vegetables, fcitratagein or Daisy peas seem to be the best for dry weather planting. Crops that are now maturing should be kept well watered, and the pods picked as soon as they are ready, other wise the vines will stop bedring. French beans al'e now unprocurable oiving to the shortage of last suminer's crop and so gardeners will have to resoi't to the golden butter bean or the purple podded variety. 13oth are good and require the same cultivation as the French bean. Salad Crops, Mustard, cress and radish seed should be planted at once in rows for quick use. Keep well watered and crops will be ready in no time. Lettuce is another important crop that is always required for summer salads. Plants may be set at once, but it is not too iate yet for seed sowing. Backward plants may be pushed ahead with sulphate of ammonia, oue tablespoon lo a gallon of water. Looking Ahead. Tbe most suocessl'ui gardener is tbe man who looks aliead and prepares for the scarce months. Those wlse men will now be' planting brocolli, savoy or winter cabbage, rcd cabbage, curly greens and iirussel sprouts. These varieties thrive in almost any soil so long as it is well worked and manured. Uther crops to set are celery, leeks, kumeras, tomatoes' and egg pl&nts. Seeds to Sow. The following seeds may be sown in clumps of three or four ; Melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, marrows, and citrons. Sweet corn may be drilled along in rows or sown round pumpkin heaps to afford them summer shade. Prevent Bflght. Potato crops that are now sbowing signs of bligbt sliould be sprayed imuiediateiy with Bordeaux [mwder, threc tablespoons to a kerosene tiu of water. A weakcr solutiou may be used on tomatoes as a preventive against Brown Hot. Caterpillars and all leaf-eating may be kept in check by using

arsenate of lead, one tablespoon to a gallon of water. Backward plants may be pushed on with nitrate of soda, one ounce to a gallon of water.